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WordPress 2.2.2 and 2.0.11 Security Update

For those who never read their WordPress dashboard, the makers of our favorite blogging software has released a security update.

Today we have two security-related releases available for both users of our main 2.2 branch and the legacy 2.0 branch. As these releases include only security and minor bugfixes they should not cause any plugin or theme compatibility issues, so you have no good excuse not to upgrade.

Now would be a good chance to test out that automatic WordPress updater. If you do use the auto update plugin, let me know how it worked for you. As for me, I did it the old fashion way. Since this is just a security update, all I did was upload and replaced the files. I didn’t even need to update the database.

Took me longer than 5 minutes. Actually, all the prep work is what took so long. The last upgrade was before my blogs were really up and running, so I just deleted nearly everything and reinstalled, without worrying about doing a backup or anything.

But, this time, I made sure I had a backup of the database, as well as all the WordPress files and everything I’ve modified.

Then, I read and re-read the directions to make sure I was doing everything right. Then double-checked as I did things to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

The actual upgrade process took less than 5 minutes though. Aside from the prep time, this was a pretty painless upgrade, probably because I was running WP 2.2.1, so there probably wasn’t a major change from 2.2.1 to 2.2.2 in terms of having to upgrade or modify the database or anything else.

So far, I’ve not noticed any problems since the upgrade, which hopefully means I didn’t accidentally delete or “upgrade” something I shouldn’t have!

Comments are a lot easier, and there is some flexibility to them as well, in that the blogmaster can set it up in at least a couple different ways.

I don’t know what options Blogger may offer, but every Blogger blog I’ve seen makes it an obstacle course to leave a comment. Maybe not a big deal to some people, but definitely an extra step or two than what you would need to do on a WordPress blog.

I don’t know whether Blogger offers different options for the blogmaster or not, but everyone that I’ve encountered has the same annoying comment setup.

Besides that, with my WordPress blog, if I am unhappy with my webhost, I can move my blog and retain stuff like my Technorati Authority ranking and incoming links.

With Blogger, unless you are using your own domain name, you wouldn’t be able to do that. You’re pretty much stuck with what they offer you. And, if you move to a different host, you will have to change your URL (unless you had your own) and basically start all over with regard to your Technorati and other rankings. Plus, you will lose your incoming links (unless Blogger will 301 redirect from your old blog to your new one).

You can certainly have success with any platform you choose, but it is best and more flexible to use something (like WordPress) that you can move to a different host if need be and also to have your own domain name to make any moves go more smoothly than they would otherwise if a move involves an URL change.

I always get a bit nervous at update time – not sure why as it has never gone wrong, however for this reason I think I’ll stay away from the automatic updater and do it the old fashioned way.

Call me a control freak but I like to be the one who chooses when and where to upgrade to the latest version – preferably at the weekend when I have enough time on my hands to fix any problems that do crop up.

I realised that my installation did not include the upgrade so I just did it (my first ever time!) and it went without a hitch. I think I could get used to doing these updates now (I used to be terrified). Thanks John!

"How I Went From Zero to Over $100,000 a Month"

The Original Dot Com Mogul

John Chow, a damn fine person, friend of the community, Ultimate Fighting Championship contestant, member of the Save the Whales Foundation, the man who controls the black market on baby seal pelts and member of the probably yo’ daddy foundation...

John Chow rocketed onto the blogging scene when he showed the income power of blogging by taking his blog from making zero to over $40,000 per month in just two years.